Time after time

Snow in California

Elle POV

The last few weeks have been completely crazy!!!!! I remember Noah looking completely exhausted when he came back last year from his final exams, but I wasn't expecting that! I don't think I've slept more than 5 hours straight in 3 weeks. Noah texted me 3 times a day to make sure I ate! And lucky because I think I would have skipped several meals. We kept our habit of spending weekends together despite the end of the session and I admit that it was a very good idea. We spent our time studying, but we did it together sometimes in the library, in a coffee shop, in the living room, or in Noah's room. No pleasant outings... but I admit that Noah clearly made the best of little moments like our walk in the snow which turned into a snowball fight or a little candlelight dinner in his room. There were also a few hot showers and this massage session which allowed us to release our stress.

But today all that is over for this session. Noah and I had dinner last night with Greg and Abby, Rebecca and Chris and Chloe. Then we slept for 12 hours to recover in Noah's room. I have never seen Noah sleep so long, except on the same day last year! But we both needed it. Then around noon we made our way to the airport to return to LA for the holidays. I was very apprehensive about this holiday season.

First, there was Lee. I'm going to spend the holidays with Noah at the Flynn house and Lee will be there. I haven't heard from him since August other than from Noah and June. Am I ready to forgive him for what he said about me and for ignoring me for so long? According to June, the therapy sessions would have done him the greatest good. He allegedly started seeing a girl in Berkeley.

There was also the relationship with my father. I spoke to him at least once a week on the phone but I admit that it's not the same anymore. The topics of conversation remained fairly neutral. I know he plans to spend New Year's Day with Linda's family in Chicago. I refused to go with them saying that for me it was already a big trip to come from Boston to LA without having to take another plane trip to Chicago before returning to Boston. And I need to fill up on sun and warmth!

I was on the plane and I was wondering how my first meeting with Lee and my father would be during this vacation. My father asked me to go to breakfast with him tomorrow morning. Lee was due to arrive at his parents' house this evening. I was really nervous to see them, I didn't really know how to act.

I was so lost in my thoughts that Noah passed his hand over my eyes :
- The earth calls Elle! You seem so caught up in your thoughts." He said to me, caressing my cheek.
- I was thinking about my meetings with Lee and my father. It makes me nervous! I would like the climate to return to how it was before." I said, sighing.
- I'm convinced it's going to happen! Your dad and Lee love you, Shelly! I believe that when the situation calms down and everyone is accustomed to our new life, the climate will improve.
- So you believe in miracles? " I said to him with a little pout. "Right now I feel like it's impossible like having snow in California.
- It helped me to believe in a miracle and hope that you would agree to give me a chance the first time, when Lee separated us or we broke up. Anything is possible, Shelly!" he said to me, holding me in his arms and placing a kiss on the top of my head.

I relaxed in his arms, letting go of the stress that had increased a lot in the last weeks. The flight went well and we arrived around 6 :00 p.m. in LA. I was so happy to see June waiting for us. I literally threw myself into her maternal arms. It felt so good!

Leaving the airport after collecting our luggage, I welcomed the warm Los Angeles sun with great joy. I admit that before leaving for Boston, I would have found the temperature of 70 degrees rather cold but it was 32 degrees when Noah and I left this afternoon. I closed my eyes to enjoy the warmth a little longer before getting into the car. Long live vitamin D!

I was greeted by the smell of cinnamon and ginger as soon as I entered the Flynn house. June invited my dad and Brad so they could come see me when I arrived. She made us a wonderful dinner, it tasted so good after months of eating cafeteria or take-out food! June Flynn is one of the best cooks I know and I thought I would use the holiday season to have her teach me some tricks. Noah and I will be living in an apartment starting in the spring and I hope to learn to cook like June. Above, I believe in miracles!

After dinner, once my dad and Brad had left, I hugged Noah. The day was long and exhausting with the plane trip and the jet lag.
- Tired?" he asked, placing a kiss on the top of my head.
- Exhausted! It's 1 :00 a.m. in Boston.
- Would you be ready for bed?
- Would you come with me?
- It's like 1 :00 a.m. for me too! I'll probably put on a movie and fall asleep to it.
- Good plan!" I said.

Noah and I excused ourselves and went upstairs to his room to sleep. Noah put on a movie then came and lay down next to me. He put his arm around me while playing with my hair with the other hand. With my head resting against his chest, I watched the movie for a few minutes before dozing off in his arms. I must have dozed for a while because a few minutes later I was awakened by a knock at the door and then I heard a muffled conversation :
- Yes, come in!" Noah said in a low voice.
- Are you both dressed?" Lee replied from the other side of the door.
- If I tell you to come in, it's because we are presentable!" Noah replied, hugging me slightly tighter.

I heard a noise indicating that Lee had entered the room and sat down in a chair facing the bed. There were a few minutes of silence before I heard :
- She looks so good!" Lee said, pointing to me.

I must have seemed peaceful dozing in my boyfriend's arms.
- She fell asleep practically as soon as we went to bed half an hour ago." Noah replied, stroking my back under the covers.
- Is she okay, Noah? Seriously!
- She adjusted to life in Boston faster than I expected. She has made several friends and is doing very well in her classes. I'm really proud of her!
- GOOD!" Lee said before taking a moment of silence and saying. "The talk we had together really helped, Noah. At first, when Shelly moved to Boston and you proposed to her, it was like you had everything I could have wanted. But I realized that you love Elle better than me. You were willing to make sacrifices to make her feel good. And I realized that I was doing the complete opposite. Elle had to make sacrifices to make me feel good. I burned her doing this for years. I really hope I can right the wrongs I did to her.
- Elle is an exceptional young woman, Lee! I know she will forgive you when you tell her that. But please, now love her for her and not for you!
- I know and I wanted to ask you for forgiveness too, Noah!
- To me! " Noah told him a little surprised.
- I know you think I want to apologize to you for the post I made. Yes, but the reason I really want to apologize is for rule number 9.

I practically reacted in my sleep upon hearing this without really knowing where Lee was going with this.
- I created this rule primarily because I didn't want Elle to fall in love with you and lose the only thing I had that you didn't have. But also because I didn't want Elle to fall in love with a player who was going to play with her heart. On the other hand, I realized that you are quite the opposite. Ever since Elle came into your life, you looked at her like she was the only girl on the planet. You commit to her until marriage at a very young age on your own without any pressure. Their well-being is your priority, that's obvious! Anyway, I wanted to tell you that ultimately, I'm happy for you with your engagement and I don't think Shelly could have found anyone better.
- Wow! I didn't expect that, Lee! Thank you, that means a lot to me!
- Do you think Elle would come and spend a day with me! I miss my Bestie like crazy.
- Sure, you can ask her tomorrow morning.
- Perfect, I'll let you sleep! Good night, Noah!
- Good night, Lee!

I was absolutely stunned, so much so that I wondered if I had dreamed. Well, miracles can still happen, but I admit that I would like to avoid the snow in California...